Automatic shape adjustment of flexible display

ABSTRACT

A device includes a flexible display for displaying media; an actuator for changing a shape of the flexible display; and a processor executing a shape determination application to apply a rule to a shape input to determine a desired shape for the flexible display in response to the shape input; the processor generating a command signal and providing the command signal to the actuator to place the flexible display in the desired shape.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to flexible displays, and moreparticularly, to methods, systems, and computer program products forautomatic shape adjustment of a flexible display.

A developing technology in the wireless device space is the use offlexible displays. Flexible displays are device screens that can be bentand flexed without damaging the internal components. Current designsallow for bending and twisting of a screen in order to provide an inputor command to a device. Other techniques for controlling the shape of aflexible display include preset commands that dictate a specific shapefor the display. The existing techniques for controlling the shape of aflexible display use predetermined commands and predetermined displayshapes.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include a device including a flexible display fordisplaying media; an actuator for changing a shape of the flexibledisplay; and a processor executing a shape determination application toapply a rule to a shape input to determine a desired shape for theflexible display in response to the shape input; the processorgenerating a command signal and providing the command signal to theactuator to place the flexible display in the desired shape.

Other exemplary embodiments include a method to control a shape of aflexible display, the method including obtaining a shape input for theflexible display; executing a shape determination application to apply arule to the shape input to determine a desired shape for the flexibledisplay in response to the shape input; and generating a command signaland providing the command signal to an actuator to place the flexibledisplay in the desired shape.

Other exemplary embodiments include a computer program product embodiedon a tangible computer readable storage medium, the computer programproduct including instructions for causing a processor to execute amethod, including obtaining a shape input for the flexible display;executing a shape determination application to apply a rule to the shapeinput to determine a desired shape for the flexible display in responseto the shape input; and generating a command signal and providing thecommand signal to an actuator to place the flexible display in thedesired shape.

Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alikein the several FIGURES:

FIG. 1 depicts a mobile device with a flexible display in an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 depicts a flexible display in an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 depicts a system for controlling a flexible display in anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for controlling display shape in anexemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 depicts encoding a shape input in media in an exemplaryembodiment.

The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, togetherwith advantages and features, by way of example with reference to thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a mobile device 10 with a flexible display in anexemplary embodiment. Mobile device 10 may be a phone, tablet, personaldigital assistant, etc., equipped with communications components (e.g.,cellular, wife, NFC, Bluetooth) for communicating over wireless or wirednetworks. Mobile device 10 includes a housing 12 that supports flexibledisplay 14. Flexible display 14 may be any known type of flexibledisplay such as a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) displayof flexible liquid crystal diode (LCD) display.

Mobile device 10 includes a microphone 16. Microphone 16 is used forvoice communications and for receiving spoken commands from a user. Acamera 18 may be located on a back side of housing 12. Camera 18receives gesture commands from a user to control the flexible display14. Camera 18 may also serve as a light sensor to control flexibledisplay 14. A speaker 20 provides audio output to the user. Mobiledevice 10 also includes one or more buttons 24 for controlling thedevice. Buttons 24 may be permanent components built into housing 12 ormay be virtual buttons, presented on display 14, activated by touchingdisplay 14. One or more sensors 22 are positioned on housing 12 to sensevarious parameters such as contact, temperature, motion, etc.

FIG. 2 depicts a flexible display 14 in an exemplary embodiment. Aplurality of actuators 30 are positioned on a back side of display 14.The actuators 30 may be implemented using known force transmittingdevices (e.g., electromagnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic, electromechanical,etc.). The actuators 30 operate to adjust shape and/or size of display14, in response to commands from a processor, as described in furtherdetail herein. In exemplary embodiments, actuators 30 include musclewires, which change shape when the appropriate electrical current isapplied. A variety of three-dimensional shapes may be assumed by display14. Actuators 30 may be interconnected by links 32 (e.g. wires, pins,etc.) to provide support for display shapes. Since the arrangement ofthe actuators 30 is known, the necessary signals required to create adesired display shape can be calculated by a processor.

FIG. 3 depicts a system for controlling a flexible display in anexemplary embodiment. A processor 40 is coupled to buttons 24, camera18, microphone 16, and sensors 22 to determine if a change of shape ofdisplay 14 is commanded. Processor 40 may be implemented using ageneral-purpose microprocessor executing a computer program stored in acomputer readable storage medium to execute the processes describedherein. Processor 40 also receives at least a portion of media 42 to bedisplayed on display 14. Processor 40 can interpret the media 42 todetermine a shape for display 14 as described in further detail herein.Processor 40 also receives status signals from actuators 30 identifyinga current position of display 14. Based on the various inputs, processor40 generates command signals to actuators 30 to change the shape ofdisplay 14.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for controlling display shape in anexemplary embodiment. Processor 40 receives a shape input from one ormore sources, such as a shape input from a user gesture at block 50. Theuser gesture may be captured by camera 18. For example, a user movingtwo fingers toward or away from each other could signal the desire tobring the edges of the display 14 closer or farther apart. Processor 40may receive shape input from a voice input at block 52. The voice inputmay be captured by microphone 16. Processor 40 may receive shape inputfrom a button 24 at block 54. Buttons 24 may be configured to increaseor decrease display size or command a certain shape. Processor 40 mayreceive shape input from sensors 22 at block 56. Sensors 22 may detecthow device 10 is being held in one's hand (e.g., via contact sensors)which would result in processor 40 adjusting display 14 in response tocontact with the device 10. Sensors 22 may also provide helpful input indetermining whether a shape can be assumed by display 14. For example,if a user commands a shape inadvertently, sensors 22 may indicate thatthe shape cannot be currently assumed because device 10 is in anenclosed space (e.g., a user's pocket or purse) based on light, contact,and/or heat sensors. Thus, the shape input from sensors 22 can overrideother shape inputs from different inputs. Camera 18 and/or microphone 16may also be used to provide information about whether a shape can beassumed.

Processor 40 may receive shape input from media 42 at block 58, eitherprior to or during presentation of the media on display 14. Processor 40may examine the media to determine a format of the media and acorresponding display shape. For example, if the media is an incomingvoice call, then the display may be kept relatively small. By contrast,if the media is an incoming video conference, the display 14 may beenlarged and tilted towards the user. Detection of the media byprocessor 40 may be based on file extensions (e.g., mpeg, txt, pdf, avi)or based on an operational mode of the device (e.g., placing a call,incoming call, playing movie, browsing internet).

In alternate embodiments, the media includes a header that includes ashape input field for controlling a shape of display 14. FIG. 5 depictsan exemplary header 100 for a media file. The header 100 may accompany amedia file sent by a sending device and be generated by the sendingdevice. Header 100 may include a sender field 102 and receiver field 104identifying addresses for each party. Further, a format field 106 mayidentify the type of media (e.g., txt, pdf, mpeg, etc.). A display shapefield 108 includes a shape input that is used by processor 40 to controlthe shape of display 14. For example, the media may be an e-card wishingthe receiving party a happy birthday. The display shape field 108 mayinclude shape input to cause processor 40 to configure the display 14 ascube, to display a three dimensional cake. Through the display shapefield 108, a sender of media can also provide a shape input to controlthe shape of flexible display 14.

In alternate embodiments, processor 40 may derive a shape input from themedia itself, rather than relying on a file extension or header.Processor 40 may examine the media itself and determine a desired shapefrom the media contents. For example, processor 40 may detect certainkeywords in a text message that initiate a desired shape. Alternatively,musical content may be processed to derive a desired shape by, forexample, extracting a vector of attributes of the music and determininga desired shape from the attributes of the media. Thus, the media itselfmay serve as a shape input.

In further alternate embodiments, the shape input may be directlycommanded from an external communication, rather than derived from mediareceived at device 10. For example, a group of users may be meeting at acertain time, but have not decided a place to meet. One user can send acommunication (e.g., an SMS message) to the other user devices, thecommunication including a shape input that causes the display 14 toassume a shape of a familiar landmark (e.g., St. Louis Arch) where thegroup should meet. In such embodiments, the shape input is the contentreceived at mobile device 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, at block 60 the processor 40 receives the variousshape inputs and executes a shape determination application to determinea desired shape for display 14. The goal of the shape determinationapplication is to determine the desired shape for display 14 by applyingrules to the shape inputs. For example, the shape inputs may havedifferent priorities, such that a higher shape input priority would takeprecedence over a lower priority shape input in the event of a conflict.For example, the shape input from buttons 24 may have the highestpriority as these inputs are often directly from the user. For example,even if the media shape input identifies an oversized display, the usermay override the media shape input using buttons 24. Similarly, shapeinput from sensors 22 may indicate that the display 14 should not bereshaped, as it is sensed that the device 10 is in an enclosed space(e.g., pocket, purse, desk drawer).

Once the desired shape for display 14 is determined, the desired shapeis compared to a current shape 62 at block 64. The current shape isknown by processor 40 based on the state of actuators 30. Processor 40can poll actuators 30 to determine if the display shape has beenchanged, for example, by the user physically. If the desired shape andcurrent shape match, then no shape change is needed and the process endsat block 66.

If the desired shape and current shape do not match, then flow proceedsto block 68 where processor 40 determines appropriate command signals totransition the display 14 from the current shape to the desired shape.At block 70, the command signals from processor 40 are applied toactuators 30 to place display 14 in the desired shape.

The changes in shape of display 14 may include a wide variety ofdeformations, including stretching to permit any bending or twisting.Such deformations enable a display in a small mobile device (such as asmartphone) to expand to many times its original size. This expandeddisplay may be capable of folding. Such an expanded folded display maypermit multiple users that are facing each other to see the same contentsimultaneously on the same device, or to operate independent userinterfaces on the same display on the same device.

As described above, the exemplary embodiments can be in the form ofprocessor-implemented processes and devices for practicing thoseprocesses, such as processor 40. The exemplary embodiments can also bein the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied intangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or anyother computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computerprogram code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computerbecomes a device for practicing the exemplary embodiments. The exemplaryembodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, forexample, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executedby a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded intoand/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmissionmedium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics,or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer programcode is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes andevice for practicing the exemplary embodiments. When implemented on ageneral-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segmentsconfigure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying outthis invention, but that the invention will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc., do not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc., are used to distinguish one element fromanother. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc., do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced item.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a flexible display to display media; an actuator to change a shape of the flexible display; a processor to execute a shape determination application to apply a rule to a shape input to determine a desired shape for the flexible display in response to the shape input; and a sensor to generate a sensor shape input; the processor to use the sensor shape input to override placing the flexible display in the desired shape when the sensor shape input indicates the device is in an enclosed space, the sensor shape input to prevent operation of the actuator and to prevent change of the flexible display to the desired shape; the processor to generate a command signal and to provide the command signal to the actuator to place the flexible display in the desired shape when not overridden by the sensor shape input; wherein the shape input is derived from the media, the shape input identified in a display shape field contained in a header accompanying the media received by the device, the processor using the display shape field contained in the header to generate the command signal to place the flexible display in the desired shape; wherein the shape input includes a plurality of shape inputs from a plurality of sources, the shape determination application to determine the desired shape in response to the plurality of shape inputs; the processor to assign priorities to the plurality of shape inputs, a high priority shape input to be selected by the shape determination application to generate the command signal.
 2. A method to control a shape of a flexible display, the method comprising: receiving media at a device having the flexible display; obtaining a shape input for the flexible display; executing a shape determination application to apply a rule to the shape input to determine a desired shape for the flexible display in response to the shape input; obtaining a sensor shape input from a sensor; using the sensor shape input to override placing the flexible display in the desired shape when the sensor shape input indicates the flexible display is in an enclosed space, the sensor shape input to prevent operation of an actuator and to prevent change of the flexible display to the desired shape; and generating a command signal and providing the command signal to the actuator to place the flexible display in the desired shape when not overridden by the sensor shape input; wherein the obtaining the shape input includes deriving the shape input from the media displayed on the flexible display, wherein deriving the shape input from the media displayed on the flexible display includes identifying a display shape field contained in a header accompanying the media received by the device and using the display shape field contained in the header to generate the command signal to place the flexible display in the desired shape; wherein the shape input includes a plurality of shape inputs from a plurality of sources, the shape determination application determining the desired shape in response to the plurality of shape inputs; the shape determination application assigning priorities to the plurality of shape inputs, a high priority shape input being selected by the shape determination application for generating the command signal.
 3. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions for causing a processor to execute operations comprising: receiving media at a device having the flexible display; obtaining a shape input for a flexible display; executing a shape determination application to apply a rule to the shape input to determine a desired shape for the flexible display in response to the shape input; obtaining a sensor shape input from a sensor; using the sensor shape input to override placing the flexible display in the desired shape when the sensor shape input indicates the flexible display is in an enclosed space, the sensor shape input to prevent operation of an actuator and to prevent change of the flexible display to the desired shape; and generating a command signal and providing the command signal to the actuator to place the flexible display in the desired shape when not overridden by the sensor shape input; wherein the obtaining the shape input includes deriving the shape input from media displayed on the flexible display, wherein deriving the shape input from the media displayed on the flexible display includes identifying a display shape field contained in a header accompanying the media received by the device and using the display shape field contained in the header to generate the command signal to place the flexible display in the desired shape; wherein the shape input includes a plurality of shape inputs from a plurality of sources, the shape determination application determining the desired shape in response to the plurality of shape inputs; the shape determination application assigning priorities to the plurality of shape inputs, a high priority shape input being selected by the shape determination application for generating the command signal.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein: the actuator to change the shape of the flexible display to fold the flexible display. 